The BEST Brute

Agreed, lower levels are suckish, but 22 when you can slot SO's is the best time to decide if you want to keep it.

That being said if you wanna change.. SS/SR doesnt go very well because the rage crash kills defence so you will be hit continuously whilst its down. Its manageable if timed right but its a bit of a pain.

claws/sr would be the better of the two for that reason alone.

Even though I have been craving a SS/SR for the longest time, I wouldn't roll one based on the fact that both are pretty endurance intensive. Claws is relatively light on endurance, which helps as SR has no way to recover endurance and is a bunch of toggles.

thanks for the info guys

I am going to settle with Claw/SR since they work well together and my toon is ironically named Ninja Kitty so the set works perfect as a theme

is it possible to perma hasten with that set? or what would be the closest recharge I can gain with it, while also keeping my soft cap

not to dissuade you from anything, but really, you should play around with all of the sets. yes, I said ALL of them. The FotM, or some theoretical combo may look good on paper, but could bore the piss out of you later on. Some combos seem like they would be terrible together, but you could find some little known synergy between them that makes them great.

SS/SD is a beast when fully IO'd, and I have seen some people do amazing things with them. I have one that is level 50 that I hate with a passion. Don't really like my ELM/ELA either, is better with the recent changes, but still not my favorite.

On top of that, how you're toon works today may not be the way it works tomorrow. Energy Melee used to be beast, now, it is underwhelming at best. My Necro/Poison MM isn't nearly as strong or as fun to play as it used to be.

Point being, if you are new to the class, mess around with it. And don't look forward to what would be best for GR, as that is all speculation. From what the devs have said, the new content is going to push all classes to their limits in the end game.

At least SOMEONE can stay on topic! ;D

Thanks Deth.

There really isnt a 'best' brute.
However, SS/WP is really really nice (but RttC kinda sucks in PvP) It really depends on what you want to do.
SS/ is really one of the best sets for brutes (but i do find dark/ to be really fun) its dmg mitigation is just awesome, why I use Foot Stomp in a full mob my SS/WP regens about 15%-20% of his HP in the time it takes for mob to get back up. It even not all that bad in PvP either because you have really hi ST dmg and rage helps to make up for that fact that fury takes time build up.

In AE SS/fire can be a god. I made an all fire dmg mission and started farming it at lvl 6. When I got to lvl 16 (plasma shield) I could already already surive the aggro cap with bosses in there too. But outside of that mission he kinda sucks.

Anyway there is no 'best' brute, however WM/nrg isn't strong nor is it pretty :P

My SS/SR brute is one of my favorite ones. The Rage crash on defense is easily dealt with by stacking Rage so it nullifies the -def drop. Can't do anything about the huge offensive drop, but attack using vet powers (for normal strength attacks which aren't affected by crash) or something like brawl and air superiority to keep Fury up and enemies momentarily on their backs.

Other combos I have at 50 include Energy/Inv (feels a tad weak now due to energy nerf, haha), Elec/Elec (no defense means you have to use IOs to build some up as well as Tough to fix Smash/Lethal hole, but Lightning Rod is great).

Other new ones I'm currently trying out is Dark/Fire, which seems nice so far.

I'm having a lot of fun with my SS/SD brute. I know.....but it's a concept character. Anyway, full fury + the SD damage bonus + Knockout blow = awesome. I can't wait until lvl 32 and Foot Stomp to really take advantage. Also, he can take lot's of damage and I think that Active Defense is a cool option rather than having a couple of toggles running. Plus I'll have Shield Charge! Fun!

Here is one of my stone brutes. I run 2 builds and love them both. Have gone down once in a mission and it was a toggle drop death. Dont usally need a Kin but they always help. The first build is my TF/Team build and second is Team/Solo build. (not that the first build dosent work just find solo) I normally run at +2/8 solo but can do +4/8 just takes longer to kill. I should also say that I haven't IO setted the second build but I have basicly the same build on my stone stone brute and it has no problems running same settings

I'm sure they could prob be optimized more but....

Also Yes brutes are the best of both worlds. With these 2 builds you can out do a tank by taking as much aggro and killing faster and out do scrappers with just about the same damage and being able to survive what a scrapper never could.. But thats just imho.

First Build

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.703
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Stone Armor
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Teleportation

Villain Profile:
------------
Level 1: Havoc Punch C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(21), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(46), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 1: Rock Armor DefBuff-I(A)
Level 2: Jacobs Ladder Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(3), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(45), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), Sciroc-Dam%(45)
Level 4: Earth's Embrace Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(5), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(5), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(7), Dct'dW-Heal(40), Dct'dW-Rchg(43)
Level 6: Build Up RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(7)
Level 8: Thunder Strike Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(9), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(37), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), Sciroc-Dam%(37)
Level 10: Mud Pots TmpRdns-Acc/Slow(A), TmpRdns-Dmg/Slow(11), TmpRdns-Acc/EndRdx(11), TmpRdns-Rng/Slow(15), TmpRdns-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow(15), TmpRdns-Acc/Dmg/Slow(36)
Level 12: Taunt Zinger-Taunt(A), Zinger-Taunt/Rchg(13), Zinger-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(13), Zinger-Acc/Rchg(48), Zinger-Taunt/Rng(50), Zinger-Dam%(50)
Level 14: Swift Run-I(A)
Level 16: Rooted Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(17), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(17), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Dct'dW-Heal(25), Dct'dW-Rchg(25)
Level 18: Health Heal-I(A), Heal-I(19)
Level 20: Stamina EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(21)
Level 22: Hasten RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(23), RechRdx-I(23)
Level 24: Kick Acc-I(A)
Level 26: Tough Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(27), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(27), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Aegis-ResDam(34), Aegis-Psi/Status(36)
Level 28: Weave LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(29), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(29), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31), LkGmblr-Def(31), LkGmblr-Rchg+(36)
Level 30: Recall Friend Range-I(A)
Level 32: Lightning Rod Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(33), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(33), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), Sciroc-Dam%(34)
Level 35: Teleport TSM'n-EndRdx(A), TSM'n-Rng(48), TSM'n-Stlth(50)
Level 38: Granite Armor ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(39), ResDam-I(39), DefBuff-I(39), DefBuff-I(40), DefBuff-I(40)
Level 41: Chain Induction C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(42), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(42), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 44: Team Teleport EndRdx-I(A)
Level 47: Super Speed Zephyr-Travel(A)
Level 49: Stone Skin ResDam-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 0: Ninja Run



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Second Build

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.703
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Stone Armor
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Teleportation

Villain Profile:
------------
Level 1: Havoc Punch C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(21), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(46), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 1: Rock Armor DefBuff-I(A)
Level 2: Jacobs Ladder Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(3), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(45), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), Sciroc-Dam%(45)
Level 4: Earth's Embrace Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(5), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(5), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(7), Dct'dW-Heal(40), Dct'dW-Rchg(43)
Level 6: Build Up RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(7)
Level 8: Thunder Strike Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(9), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(37), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), Sciroc-Dam%(37)
Level 10: Mud Pots TmpRdns-Acc/Slow(A), TmpRdns-Dmg/Slow(11), TmpRdns-Acc/EndRdx(11), TmpRdns-Rng/Slow(15), TmpRdns-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow(15), TmpRdns-Acc/Dmg/Slow(36)
Level 12: Taunt Zinger-Taunt(A), Zinger-Taunt/Rchg(13), Zinger-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(13), Zinger-Acc/Rchg(48), Zinger-Taunt/Rng(50), Zinger-Dam%(50)
Level 14: Swift Run-I(A)
Level 16: Rooted Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(17), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(17), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Dct'dW-Heal(25), Dct'dW-Rchg(25)
Level 18: Health Heal-I(A), Heal-I(19)
Level 20: Stamina EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(21)
Level 22: Hasten RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(23), RechRdx-I(23)
Level 24: Kick Acc-I(A)
Level 26: Tough Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(27), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(27), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Aegis-ResDam(34), Aegis-Psi/Status(36)
Level 28: Weave LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(29), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(29), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31), LkGmblr-Def(31), LkGmblr-Rchg+(36)
Level 30: Recall Friend Range-I(A)
Level 32: Lightning Rod Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(33), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(33), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), Sciroc-Dam%(34)
Level 35: Teleport TSM'n-EndRdx(A), TSM'n-Rng(48), TSM'n-Stlth(50)
Level 38: Granite Armor ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(39), ResDam-I(39), DefBuff-I(39), DefBuff-I(40), DefBuff-I(40)
Level 41: Chain Induction C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(42), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(42), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 44: Team Teleport EndRdx-I(A)
Level 47: Super Speed Zephyr-Travel(A)
Level 49: Stone Skin ResDam-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 0: Ninja Run



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The best Brute is The Oldest One, my 50 Fire/Fire Brute who is a delicate princess dammit.

'nuff said.

Best brute: Stone Melee/Fire Assault/Willpower/Shield.

What you're looking for decides alot of what is "BEST"

SS/WP is an absolute beast combo. Its good right out of the box.....its good levelling up.....its good at 50th level.....its good with SOs and IOs out nicely as well. For people who want a fire-and-forget brute where you can just run around and beat on stuff, this has to be one of the easiest to do. WP sucks for holding aggro though so you know thats really the only drawback. Note: SS/Inv isn't as good right out of the box but might actually IO out a little better at 50th and can hold aggro.

Elec/Shield is popular at the moment and its not hard to see why. S/L soft cap it and its got amazing AoE potential with the 2 TP damage attacks and all the other benefits of the elec AoEs. Its more complicated than SS/WP but if well played more powerful in many situations. Elec/Shield is lousy compared to SS/WP with just a SO build though....it requires the IOs to not flop over frequently.

Stone Melee/Fire is a nice combo because Stone is the most mitigating primary and Fire armor can use the help. I found mine very powerful but I didn't like the look of the stone attacks so I never play her anymore. I suspect Stone/Dark would be pretty wicked as well though I never actually did one.

Other things I've noticed:

Claws are nice with just about anything because they build fury so quickly. They seem to do weak damage till they get going though.

SR can't do the main redside farm because stacked vengence = faceplanting and the main farm is against nemesis. Otherwise they're great.

Dark Armor is almost ignored for Brutes because people think DA = slow fury.......this has not been my experience. Though DA is end heavy so its late blooming.

Energy Armor is fine despite all the jokes about Mace/EA being strong and pretty.

I've had great success with a SS/Electric/Mu Brute in PvE.
You will have fast recharge, a heal, ability to deliver massive damage, no end problems and a "god mode"
You will also be able to max out the diffuculty for your missions later in the game.
I have only PvPed a few times in RV with the PvE build and ehh, wasn't that bad. I will work on a RV PvP build and swap the Mu patron for Black Scorpian's web envelope.
All in all an awesome PvE build. If you have never made a BRUTE, make SS/Electric today.
You won't regret it.

I second that. A SS/ElA brute is among the top few brutes in regards to damage dealing.

I currently have ele/wp, and he is amazing.

My defense maybe not as high as a tank, but i regen much faster, and picking up tough isnt a problem due to the fact i have quick recovery and stamina. I have gotten to the point where i can solo almost all eb when they are purple.

And as for AoE, i have 3 skills that i use, plus one from Epic, which helps alot to hold ago.

All in all, it really depends on how you build it, and how much work you put it in, even though ele/wp still great if you dont put much into it.

On paper (based off Paragon wiki) Electrical Melee / SD looks like the best powerset pairing for Brute farming.

I'm confused as to why El Melee is not chosen over SStrength for farming in general, with both of the Ele Melee AoE's having knockdown just like Foot Stomp.
El Melee has Build Up to make up for no Rage, and Rage has its 10 sec crash.
El Melee's AoE Lightning Rod is listed as Superior DMG (vs Footstomp's Moderate DMG) and has the same recharge speed as FootStomp, and can take a Forced Feedback Recharge Proc. The only gems SStrength has to write home about looks like Knockout Blow for ST Extreme DMG, along with Haymaker for High DMG. Although with the more powerful AoE's from El Melee you'd think the gap would be eclipsed in ST damage when AoE's are cycled in constantly on one target.